Archives|IMPORTANT FROM ARIZONA.; Depredations of the Indian Savages. Attack Upon Col. Butterworth and Party and Murder of Messrs. Stephens and Mills. CRUCIFIXION OF AN INDIAN. IMMENSE MINERAL WEALTH OF ARIZONA. Solid Masses of the Precious Metals.

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IMPORTANT FROM ARIZONA.; Depredations of the Indian Savages. Attack Upon Col. Butterworth and Party and Murder of Messrs. Stephens and Mills. CRUCIFIXION OF AN INDIAN. IMMENSE MINERAL WEALTH OF ARIZONA. Solid Masses of the Precious Metals.

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On the 31st of December, Col. CHAS. D. POSTON, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, myself and a small party, left Fort Yuma in an ambulance for the Pima Villages and Tucson. A cavalry company, numbering about 100 men, under command of Capt. GORHAM and Lieuts. Fox and ARNOLD, of the Volunteer service, accompanied us most of the way. The country along the Gila is nearly a continued desert the entire distance, although in general the land is rich, and would be extremely productive if it could be irrigated. Mesquit and cottonwood abound all the way, with patches of sage-brush, cactus and alamo. We found the climate delightful even at this season of the year. The days were warm and sunshiny, and not a single cloud obscured the sky during our entire journey. At night, however, we suffered a good deal from the cold. Water froze in our buckets, and our blankets were covered with a thick coating of frost every morning. There being little or no grass anywhere on the line of the river, we had to carry along our forage, which rendered the journey somewhat slow and tedious. At most we made about twenty twenty miles a day. The mail stations of the old Overland Company are still standing, but are mostly in ruins, having been burnt or otherwise partially destroyed upon the discontinuance of the mail line. They are now used as depots for Government forage.

At the expiration of eight days we arrived at the Pima Villages. Here we called together the Indians and gave them some goods, furnished by the Indian Department, as a tribute of friendship for their continued good behavior, industry and amicable conduct towards the whites. These Indians, though not yet Christianized, are a thriving and industrious people -- cultivate large fields of grain, melons and vegetables, and live in comparative comfort. They have always been friendly to the whites, and deserve the kind consideration of the Government. A large reservation has been laid off for them, within which they live in an almost patriarchal style, cultivating their fields, and attending their flocks and herds.

From the Pima's we made a slight detour of a day's journey to visit the Casa Granda, one of the most remarkable ruins on the Continent of North America. Of this wonderful relic of the Montezumas I have made accurate sketches, as also of many other interesting scenes and ruins on the journey, with a view of publishing a detailed account of Arizona, in an illustrated form.

From the Casa Granda, across the desert to Tucson, via the pass of the Pecache, noted as a famous crossing-place of the Apaches, took us about four days of pretty hard travel. Everywhere we heard of the depredations committed by these ruthless bands of savages. At Burke's Station, on the Gila, we found one of them hung to a tree; but the first evidence of civilization I saw was near the Maricopa Station, where we discovered the dried body of an Apache hanging to a cross on the side of a hill. He was killed and crucified by the Pimas about two years ago, and his body now dangles in the wilderness as a warning to others of his race. The Maricopas and Pimas generally manage to defend themselves from the encroachments of the Apaches. In a foray which took place a few weeks before our arrival, they killed four Tonto Apaches and took two prisoners -- one a little girl, whom I purchased for a few blankets, with a view of sending her up to California and having her educated.

On our arrival at Tucson, we received the melancholy news of the murder of Messrs. MILLS and STEPHENS, of the Mowry Mines, and of an attack upon Col. BUTTERWORTH, President of the Arizona Mining Company, and his party.

Col. BUTTERWORTH is well known in New-York, and throughout the United States, as a gentleman of high standing and great personal energy and courage. On or about the 1st of December, he left San Francisco on the steamer for Guyamas, for the purpose of visiting the silver mines of Arizona, in the vicinity of Tubac. It was his object to develop the vast resources of this mineral region, and put the mines in working order -- operations having been almost entirely suspended during the past two or three years, in consequence of the unsettled condition of affairs in the country, and the absence of protection to the miners.

The party consisted of Col. BUTTERWORTH, President of the Arizona Company, Mr. KUSTEL, metallurgist, and Messrs. HIGGINS and JANIN, two young gentlemen engaged in private enterprises. Col. JACK HAYS, the Texan Ranger, with a large party of friends, left in the same steamer for the purpose of visiting certain mines in Sonora. Mr. EDWARD L. STEPHENS, the newly appointed manager of the Mowry Mines, (more generally known as the Patagonian Mine,) also went down to Guyamas by the same steamer, under an engagement, I believe, to relieve Mr. J.B. MILLS, who was already in charge of the mine. Whether the party traveled together as far as Santa Cruz, near the border line, we have no account; but it appears that the main body of them on their arrival at that point, imprudently separated for the purpose of visiting the different mines and probably reuniting at Tubac.

Col. BUTTERWORTH, with his ambulance, and two or three hired Americans and five Mexicans, started for the Cerro Colorado or Heintzleman Mines, via Tubac. Messrs. KUSTEL, HIGGINS and JANIN started for Santa Rita, as we understand, by the way of the Patagonia Mine. Mr. MILLS had come down to Santa Cruz, and there met Mr. STEPHENS, and both started on horseback for the same mine, unaccompanied by any other member of the party. The distance from Santa Cruz to the Patagonia Mine is about fifteen miles. When something over half way, they were fired upon by a party of Apaches, who lay in ambush by the roadside awaiting their approach. There is no positive knowledge of the number, but from subsequent events, it is supposed the band did not exceed twelve or fifteen. Mr. STEPHENS was probably killed at the first fire. His body was riddled with bullets. MILLS appear, to have lived some time, and made a desperate resistance. The marks of the struggle were all over the ground for a considerable distance in the vicinity. The animals ridden by both these gentlemen were also killed, and lay close by the dead bodies of the men. Nothing was known of this sad event at the mines till some Mexicans coming in from Santa Cruz found the bodies on the roadside, and brought in the news. A party immediately started out and buried the unfortunate victims of this barbarous assassination.

On the same day, about six hours later, Col. BUTTERWORTH and his party were on the road between Santa Cruz and Tubac. At a point beyond San Lazarn's, near the boundary line, they were approached by a band of Apaches, supposed to be the same who had killed MILLS and STEPHENS, and who had meantime crossed a spur of the Patagonia Mountain.

As soon as the Indians appeared, they commenced yelling, but did not immediately make an attack -- sheir object being, doubtless, first to stampede the mules and test the courage of the assailed party. Col. BUTTERWORTH states that there were only twelve or fifteen of them, so far as he could judge by counting those in sight. He at once had his ambulance drawn up on a rise of ground for the purpose of defence. The country was open, and there was ample time to make a bold stand and drive the Indiana off; but the Mexicans called out, "Run for your lives!" and fled in a panic. The Americans (teamsters and drivers) also started to run. Col. BUTTERWORTH urged them to stand and fight like men -- that they could whip the Indians away in a few minutes; and even threatened to fire upon them; but by this time they had cut away some of the mules from the harness. and fled after the Mexicans. The Apaches then rushed in, seeing but one man to defend the ambulance, not a shot having been fired on either side. Finding he could do nothing against so large a number, Col. BUTTERWORTH sought a position of defence by a tree about a hundred yards distant, where he made a stand, determined to sell his life as dearly as possible. In the triumph and contusion of the moment, the Indians were too busy to pay much attention to him, but devoted themselves to robbing and gutting the ambulance. They cut away the lining, tore up the seats, and took everything that was in it, including arms, ammunition, provisions and $1,700 in gold, which was destined to defray the expense of putting a force of workmen in the mines. They also took a small keg of whisky, over which they had a grand carousal. At this period, Col. BUTTERWORTH thinks that with the assistance of one brave man he could have Killed the whole band. After their orgie, they set fire to the grass, which was tall and dry, for the purpose of driving their intended victim away from the tree, so as to kill him without risk to themselves. The flames soon spread, and BUTTERWORTH was compelled to climb up the tree as far as possible to avoid being burnt. His pantaloons were partly burnt, but the smoke served him a good purpose, as it enabled him to get away without being seen. The Indians then lett and he saw no more of them. Night coming on he set out for Santa Cruz, a distance of some thirty or forty miles, following, as well as he could, the course of the Santa Cruz River. There was thick chapparel and mesquit all around him; he was ignorant of the country and could not speak a word of the Mexican language. Under such circumstances he had great difficulty in making his way. The nights are intensely cold in this region, and being without blankets or covering of any kind he suffered intensely. Next day he had to lie by, not knowing at what moment he might be assassinated by Indians lying in ambush. After dark he resumed his journey, and traveled till he saw a camp-fire, which he approached. This was the fire of a Mexican party sent out from Santa Cruz by Senor COMMODURAN, a most worthy and humane Spaniard, to whom the runaway party had reported the disaster. BUTTERWORTH hailed the camp, but the Mexicans, not understanding his language, believed him to be the scout of some Apache party, and set up a yell, which caused him to fall into a similar error respecting them, and he withdrew out of their reach as fast as possible. He hid in the mesquit for a while, and when the alarm was over, pursued his way, almost exhausted from fatigue, cold and starvation. In giving these details to my informants (Mr. JOHN GABER and Mr. PENNINGTON) Col. BUTTERWORTH said he thought it was all over with him just before he saw the camp-fires, and that he had no more strength left, but when he heard their shouts, and imagined he had fallen among another band of Apaches, be felt as strong and active as ever. He thinks he could have killed at least three or four, had they come upon him. Owing to this unfortunate mistake, he was out altogether two days and two nights before the Mexicans found him and took him down to Santa Cruz. There he hired another party, with whom he set out on the road again to recover his ambulance. He then proceeded to Calabasus, and probably the Cerro Colorado, via the Patagonia Mine. GABER met him at the Patagonia, and PENNINGTON, I believe, at Calabasus.

Of course the above details must be inaccurate in several unimportant particulars, but I give them as nearly as lean after two hours conversation with Messrs. GABER and PENNINGTON, both of whom agree upon the main points. These men are well known in Tucson, and their statement is considered strictly reliable. We have no news, as yet, from Col. BUTTERWORTH himself. Information, however, to the same general effect, comes from various different sources.

The same band of Apaches, after the murder of Messrs. MILLS and STEPHENS, and the robbery of Col. BUTTERWORTH, crossed over with their plunder towards Tubatanca, where they met a party of Sonorians, numbering some twenty strolling musicians and players, on the way to Tuscon. They attacked this party and killed four of the Mexicans. No defence was made. A portion of the party returned to Sonora, and the remainder, numbering eight persons, came on to Tucson, where they arrived a few days ago, bringing confirmatory intelligence of the events above narrated.

I understand Col. BUTTERWORTH says he has not the most remote idea of being whipped out of the country by a parcel of Apache savages. He came down here to put the mines in operation, and he will do it if breath remains in his body.

We have no news of KUSTEL, HIGGINS and JANIN, but there is no reason to doubt that they have have by this time joined the main party.

I give these details as a matter of peculiar interest to the citizens of New-York, and to the country at large. It will be seen that Arizona is still in a very unsafe condition. All industry is paralyzed for want of military protection. The Governor and suite have not yet arrived at Fort Whipple, so far as we can learn from express to the 1st of January. His proclamation, dated at that point Dec. 25, must have been issued at Santa Fe or Albuquerque, as it comes by the El Paso express. Great apprehensions are entertained here that the whole party have been caught by snow in the mountains, and cannot get through for several months. On this point, however, all is conjecture.

The garrison at Tucson consisted of forty-five men, about thirty of whom are available for military duty. For want of transportation Col. COLT could not send out even a small detachment to render assistance to the Butterfield party. Officers and men have been withdrawn to New-Mexico till this Territory is literally left at the mercy of the Apaches. The cavalry company which accompanied us from Fort Yuma was a welcome addition to the military force of the Territory, and will, if not sent elsewhere, be of great service. All the country needs is military protection to become, within a few months, the most important of all our territorial possessions.

I have been pretty extensively over California and Washoe, but have not yet seen a country to compare with Arizona in the richness of its mineral productions. The average yield of the silver mine in the neighborhood of Tubac, imperfectly as they have hitherto been worked, is very far above anything yet discovered in Washoe. I have seen more solid masse of precious metals, and richer ones since my arrival here, than I ever saw before as the result of similar working. By the time this reaches you we will, In all probability, have a Territorial Government; and, with what aid the military powers can afford, these sliver mines will very soon show what kind of stuff the country is made of. Weaver's and Walker's Diggings, La Paz and the Castle Dome Districts, are already exciting the attention of large prospecting parties. Adventurers are crowding in from California in all directions, and strong parties are now being organized to explore the San Francisco Mountain range. It would pay the Government to send three thousand troops here for the permanent protection of the mines. A force of one hundred men would be sufficient to protect the entire silver region of Santa Rita, Cerro Colorado and the Patagonia. A few hundred cavalry in the Placer Diggings, and occasional stations at the dangerous passes, would give security to life and property, and the result would be such a development of mineral wealth as we have not yet seen in our history. I speak positively, for I know what the country is.

Col. POSTON and myself, with an escort of thirty men, leave to-morrow for Santa Cruz and the Silver Mines, in the hope of being able to render some assistance to the scattered parties in that region. The duty is not without danger, but if we can render material aid to the suffering people of the Territory, we shall, esteem ourselves fortunate in having the opportunity. I confidently trust that, before the expiration of three months things will be in a better condition. No risk or trouble shall be spared on our part to bring about that desirable result.

Yours truly, J. ROSS BROWNE.

A version of this archives appears in print on March 12, 1864, on Page 3 of the New York edition with the headline: IMPORTANT FROM ARIZONA.; Depredations of the Indian Savages. Attack Upon Col. Butterworth and Party and Murder of Messrs. Stephens and Mills. CRUCIFIXION OF AN INDIAN. IMMENSE MINERAL WEALTH OF ARIZONA. Solid Masses of the Precious Metals. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe